Dec 11, 2007

HRC Seoul (2nd cafe)


I visited new HRC Seoul in Dec 11th of 2007.

Since I heard that HRC Seoul would be opened at new location,
I had kept exchanging e-mails with a staff of HRC Seoul.
And I finally got the opening date after I came back from my US trip.
It was in Dec 5th, and I decided to visit South Korea from Dec 10th.
The problem was I was so busy after my US trip(from Nov 22 until 27th),
so I had only 2 days in Seoul.

And then I heard that the opening date of Gift Shop was postponed until 13th,
but the staff promised HRC can officially start to sell pins from Dec 11th.
Of course, I was really worried about it, but no time to change my plan.

-Day 1
I arrived to Seoul around 5PM in Dec 10th.
It took about 90 min from Osaka to Seoul.
The staff of HRC Seoul promised me that she would give phone call to me in Dec 11th,
so only thing I could do was to wait until 11th.

I found HRC Seoul easily when I arrived Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon area.
-Hamilton Hotel
New HRC Seoul is located on the site of Hamilton Hotel.

There are many Embassies in Itaewon, and US base is located in the area, too.
I think HRC Seoul got the best location in South Korea.
I saw many of foreign tourists around the area.


Of course, Gift Shop was under construction.
I saw no items inside HRC.

This is a photo from parking area of Hamilton Hotel.

After that, I enjoyed Seoul's night life.


Famous Lotte Hotel was beautiful with Xmas light.


-Day 2
I got phone call from the staff of HRC Seoul,
and she came to the lobby to pick me up.
She took me to HRC Seoul, and showed inside HRC.
According to her explanation, 1st floor will be used only for reception with some memorabilia,
and Gift Shop will be on 2nd floor.
Like old HRC Seoul had, new HRC Seoul will have huge restaurant under the ground that would be opened in Jan of 2008.

After that, she took me to the office near HRC,
and I finally could meet Grand Opening pin on the table.

I really like traditional design from each country,
so of course, I love this pin very much!! LE 300.

They also had other pins that will come for new HRC Seoul opening.

I was really satisfied that I could buy many of new pins from new location.

They told me that they would release Grand Opening 2008 with different design when they open the restaurant in Jan of 2008.

Going to Seoul is very easy from Japan. Only 90 min by plane,
so I will visit HRC Seoul again when they finally open the restaurant next year.



-My HRC Seoul page
-My Photos from Seoul

Nov 25, 2007

HRC Atlantic City


I visited HRC Baltimore in Nov 24 of 2007.
After good time in Baltimore, I got on Greyhound,
and arrived AC around 18:30.
For me who don't enjoy gambling, Atlantic City was place only for HRC.

HRC Atlantic City was easy to find because it was located next to Trump Taj Mahal that was really huge Casino hotel along Boardwalk.

They had many of nice pins, so I bought many pins then.



I enjoyed talking with staffs, and took some photos of inside HRC.
HRC AC was worse than I expected, but I could find some of good pins,
so it means I had good time here. Thanks.
This was my 78th HRC visit.

-Click her for my HRC Atlantic City page

After HRC, I enjoyed shopping.
And then I returned to NYC by Greyhound.

Nov 24, 2007

HRC Baltimore


I visited HRC Baltimore in Nov 24th of 2007.
It was long way to Baltimore by Greyhound bus,
but I spent all day of Nov 24th for HRC visit.

HRC Baltimore was located in the area of Inner Harbor that has been the most famous tourist destination of Baltimore.
It was really easy to find HRC.
The building next to HRC had big guitar sign on the top of it,
so I could see it even from highway.

There was not many people inside HRC, so I enjoyed walking inside HRC,
and took some photos.
I also spend much time at the merchandise store, too.


-Baltimore 10th anniversary pin



It was nice to visit HRC Baltimore.
This was my 77th HRC visit.

-Click here for my HRC Baltimore page

By the way, I had to wait for next bus that will bring me to Atlantic City,
so I did some sightseeing until then.
-with Babe Ruth

-Beautiful Inner Harbor


-Click here for all photos of Baltimore

Nov 23, 2007

HRC Philadelphia



I visited HRC Philadelphia in Nov 23rd of 2007.
To tell you the truth, Philly brought me to USA at this time.
It is true!!
After I saw Rocky Final, I really wanted to visit Rocky Step in front of Philly museum.

It took about 90 min from NY by Greyhound bus

I arrived, and went to Market St that is the main street of Philly.
I easily found HRC Philly. Great location!!

This cafe was not huge, and I didn't see many tourists like NYC,
so I really could relax, and enjoyed to see memorabilias, and pins.

A good thins was that they had some of sexy pins that I like.
And I could enjoy trading pins with staff. Thanks!!
This was my 76th HRC visit.

-Click here for my HRC Philly page

But the main event of my Philly visit was not HRC.
I went to Philly Museum, and spent much time there.

-Famous Rocky Step

-Like Rocky from the top of Rocky Step

It is obvious that Philly was the best for me through my US trip of 2007.
I really had great time in Philly. Thanks!

-Click here for all photos of Philly.

Nov 22, 2007

HRC New York (2nd cafe)


I visited HRC NY(2nd cafe) in Nov 22nd, 2007.
It has been almost 10 years since I visited NYC in Dec of 1997.
After the plan of HRH NY was canceled, I once planed to go to other cities like Rome,
but there are some HRC around NY I have never visited, and I wanted to go to Philly after I saw the movie "Rocky Final", so I decided to visit NY again.

At this time, HRC NYC has been on the Broadway!!
I was really surprised when I saw HRC in the center of Times Square.
How did they make it?? I think this location is the best of all cafes.

I saw many tourists inside the merchandise store,
and there was long waiting line for restaurant.
I saw some photos, and bought some pins there,
but I felt like I could not relax there because it was hard even to find the way I walk inside HRC!!

This is my favorite Brooklyn Bridge pin that I got then.


-Click here for my HRC NY page

I have a lot of things to do in NYC, so I left HRC soon,
and had great time in NYC for couple of days.

-Click here for all photos of NYC

May 25, 2007

HRC Dubai


I visited HRC Dubai in May 25th, 2007.


HRC Dubai was located in the area of Jumeirah Beach that have many of famous hotel around there.
There were many tourists inside HRC when I visited there,
but all staffs were very friendly, and welcomed me.
-Click here for photos of HRC Dubai


Good thing was that they just released some of new pins that were what I liked.
My favorite was their new city guitar & guitar Head series,
because I enjoyed the beautifuly hotel last night, so I had good feeling about it.
-Click here for photos of U.A.E.



I had great day in Dubai, and my favorite was night view of Burj Al Arab from the beach.
That was really beautiful. I will not forget it.


This was my 74th HRC visit.